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Tuesday, July 8, 2025

How Canada’s media dismissed COVID-19 lab leak theory without evidence

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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The lab origin theory of COVID-19 is receiving renewed interest and credibility among scientists – but it wasn’t too long ago that outlets like CBC News, the Toronto Star and Canada’s National Observer published articles dismissing the lab leak theory outright without waiting for a scientific consensus on the matter. 

From the outset of the pandemic, True North has covered all of the competing theories regarding COVID-19, including the potential lab origin of the virus. 

Soon after the world became aware of the existence of COVID-19, True North founder Candice Malcolm asked on her show why nobody in the mainstream media was questioning whether the virus emerged from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.� 

For the crime of simply investigating unanswered questions, Malcolm faced repeated attacks by freelance reporter Justin Ling who followed China’s lead and claimed the theory was baseless.

In an article published by Foreign Policy, Ling attacked the lab leak theory as “nonsense” and a conspiracy theory. 

Ling continued his claims into 2021, saying there had been no evidence whatsoever to support the idea that COVID-19 came from a lab and that the theory was “dangerous misinformation.” 

Even Canada’s public broadcaster, CBC News, published a report that called the lab leak hypothesis a “conspiracy theory” and “disinformation.” 

“One of the most persistent and widespread pieces of disinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic has been the conspiracy theory that the novel coronavirus that causes the disease was created in a lab — and was let loose either by accident or on purpose by some nefarious actor,” wrote CBC journalist Andrea Bellemare on March 24, 2020.

“The theory not only lives on social media and internet message boards pushing conspiracy theories but has been publicly floated by politicians.” 

Bellemare continued to dismiss the theory on social media implying that the theory was debunked, as if the science was settled. 

Outlets like the Toronto Star joined in on spreading the baseless claim that the COVID-19 lab theory was an instance of misinformation.

The National Observer’s “disinformation researcher” Caroline Orr claimed that the lab theory was part of a number of “shared hoaxes and rumours” about the virus. 

Despite these false claims by Canadian mainstream media outlets and journalists, more experts around the world are increasingly skeptical of China’s dismissal of the lab origin theory and consider it to be a possibility among other competing theories. 

Recently, a group of highly qualified experts advocated in Science Magazine for the world to take the lab origin theory seriously as a possible source for COVID-19 while also criticizing the World Health Organization for being too dismissive of the theory. 

“Theories of accidental release from a lab and zoonotic spillover both remain viable. Knowing how COVID-19 emerged is critical for informing global strategies to mitigate the risk of future outbreaks,” the researchers wrote.

Additionally, a US public health researcher admitted this week that political attitudes towards former US President Donald Trump were behind the reason scientists initially dismissed the COVID-19 lab hypothesis.

According to the director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Global Health Policy Center J Stephen Morrison, the lab hypothesis “got jumbled up together with some of the more crazy aspects of Trump, and scientists recoiled against that and went in favor of the theory that COVID-19 had emerged out of a natural process versus a lab escape.”

Trudeau Foundation attempted to coverup sexual harassment scandal, lawsuit claims

By
True North Wire
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A former scholarship student with the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation is suing the organization after claiming that she was sexually harassed by former premier of the Northwest Territories Stephen Kakfwi while he was her mentor there. 

According to Nlaxa’pamux Nation member Cherry Smiley, the Trudeau Foundation attempted to cover up the matter by having her sign a non-disclosure agreement and told her that the alleged sexual harassment was a matter of “cultural misunderstanding.” 

“They told her that it would be ‘bad for her’ if ‘this got out’ and that ‘Kakfwi could sue her’ and that the Foundation ‘could be accused of racism by Mr. Kakfwi,’” the lawsuit says. 

“They attempted to minimize the sexual harassment, telling her that it was just a ‘cultural misunderstanding.’

Smiley first joined the foundation’s “Summer Institute” in 2016 as a second-year PhD student from Montreal. Only the foundation is named in the lawsuit and not Kakfwi himself or any other senior employees. 

The Trudeau Foundation has yet to file a statement of defence to the allegations which have not been proven in court. 

“The Foundation has a different interpretation of several facts alleged in the article published by Radio-Canada,” said the Trudeau Foundation’s Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors Dyane Adams in a statement on the original report. 

According to the lawsuit, Smiley and Kakfwi had dinner together at a restaurant while Kakfwi was acting as her mentor. 

“The dinner was unusual in that Mr. Kakfwi spent the entire evening talking about himself and did not ask the Plaintiff about her research or her areas of academic interest,” court documents allege.

The lawsuit continues to allege that the two took a cab to Sheraton Hotel where “Kakfwi suddenly moved his body extremely close to the Plaintiff and grabbed her upper arm, close to her breast, and squeezed it. He proceeded to hold onto her upper arm for an extended period, rubbing and massaging it.”

“The Plaintiff panicked and eventually pulled her body away from him,” it continues. 

Another incident alleged in the lawsuit involves a gala at the Summer Institute where Smiley alleges Kakfwi grabbed her again and told her she could stay “in his spare bedroom.” 

“She was especially frightened and intimidated given that she required a reference letter from Mr. Kakfwi in order to receive the subsequent year of her scholarship funding from the Trudeau Foundation,” the lawsuit claims. 

After reporting the incidents, it is alleged that the foundation’s former CEO Morris Rosenberg phoned Smiley to discuss the allegations and accuse her of “blowing things out of proportion.” 

“The Plaintiff was extremely uncomfortable and distressed during this offensive conversation. She felt disbelieved and under attack,” court documents claim. 

As of August 2018, Kakfwi was removed from the program as a mentor, however, Smiley alleges she was then pressured to sign a non-disclosure agreement on the matter. 

Smiley dropped out of the program as a result of the incidents. Smiley is seeking $500,000 in damages from the foundation for allegedly breaching its contractual duty and an additional $500,000 for breaching confidence. Smiley is also asking for $250,000 in punitive damages. 

While the foundation is named after his father, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is currently not involved with the charitable organization. The Prime Minister’s brother Alexandre Trudeau is currently a member representing the Pierre Trudeau Estate.

Public Health Agency violated federal rules by awarding $618M in cash advances: auditor general

By
True North Wire
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The Public Health Agency of Canada violated federal rules when it gave companies $618 million in cash advances to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies.

First reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, Canada’s auditor general determined in a recent report that the Public Health Agency did not conduct the required risk assessments before giving firms cash advancements.

“We found the department could not always demonstrate it conducted specific assessments for contracts subject to advance payment, to ensure for example the suppliers’ financial viability,” the report read.

“Advance payment was made in 36% of the contracts we examined. These contracts are considered riskier since the government might pay for goods it does not receive. We found the value of the advanced payments made in the contracts we examined ranged from 20 to 80% of the original value.”

Auditor General Karen Hogan said she was not able to determine exactly how many firms failed to fulfill the terms of their contracts.

In one instance, the Public Health Agency gave Spartan Bioscience Inc. a $16.6 million cash advancement to produce test kits, only for the firm to go bankrupt before any goods were delivered.

“There’s about $618 million out of the contracts that we looked at that were prepayments,” she said.

“I do not have a dollar figure where contracts were awarded with prepayment and goods not received.” 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the federal government has scrambled to source PPE and medical supplies, often by subpar products at ridiculous markups in the process.

It was not until after the pandemic hit that Canadians learned the government’s emergency supply of PPE was dangerously low.

Researchers shine light on “COVID Misery”

By
Andrew Lawton
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Researchers with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute have been tracking the “misery” unleashed by the pandemic – not just by COVID-19, but by governments’ responses to it. Health statistician and economist Prof. Richard Audas joined The Andrew Lawton Show to break down his findings.

Watch the latest episode of The Andrew Lawton Show.

Quebec passes motion requesting provincial emoji from tech companies

By
True North Wire
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The National Assembly of Quebec has unanimously passed a motion calling on tech companies to create a Quebec emoji.

On Wednesday, Quebec’s legislature passed the non-binding motion without debate. The motion was put forward by the Parti Québécois.

Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon called the motion a “small gesture” with significant symbolism, while also complaining that other non-independent places like Scotland have their own emojis but Quebec doesn’t.

“Quebec has the same right as several other nations around the world, the right to be proud and display this pride on social media,” he said before the vote.

The motion calls on the Unicode Consortium, the international organization that regulates internet language, to create a Quebec emoji “as soon as possible.”

Members of the Unicode Consortium include Google, Microsoft and Facebook. Plamondon says he will also write a letter to Facebook to try to expedite the process.

According to the consortium, a request for a Quebec emoji was already made in 2019, with the request still “under consideration.”

Ottawa City Council approves $2.9 million grant for new Porsche dealership

By
True North Wire
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Ottawa City Council has approved a $2.9 million grant to a company building a new Porsche dealership.

On Wednesday, council voted 15-9 in favour of granting the tax break to Mark Motors of Ottawa for the purposes of building a Porsche dealership on Montreal Road in Vanier.

The grant comes under the Community Improvement Plan initiative. Under the initiative, companies can get a grant to offset 75% the municipal taxes of new developments.

The decision to approve the grant for the dealership was highly controversial among councillors, with multiple speaking out against the handout.

Coun. Diane Deans told the council that it should not be expected that funds earmarked for community improvement should go to a firm selling high-end cars.

“I don’t think it fits. I don’t think a clear case has been made that this incentive is required for the Mark Motors project to move forward at all,” she said.

“I don’t believe there’s a clear community benefit.”

The grant was defended by Mayor Jim Watson, who said the grant would result in $17 million in investment and create 20 jobs on Montreal Road.

According to CTV, at least 70 people staged a protest at the site of the future Porsche dealership on Tuesday ahead of the vote. 

A number of community members came forward in the weeks before the vote, advising council the grant money could be spent better elsewhere.

The grant was also slammed by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, which called it a massive waste of taxpayer dollars when many are suffering from the effects of the pandemic.

“The Porsche dealership’s potential future owners claim that 20 new jobs will be created through opening this new dealership so the price tag for taxpayers is about $145,000 per job,” said Ontario Director Jay Goldberg. 

“Ottawa City Council is increasing property taxes by 3% this year. Hardworking taxpayers should not have to pay even more in taxes just to see council waste their hard-earned tax dollars on corporate welfare for a luxury car dealership.” 

Person of Interest

By
Andrew Lawton
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SUBSCRIBE TO THE ANDREW LAWTON SHOW

Documents produced by police in Aylmer, Ontario name Andrew Lawton as a “person of interest” in connection with a supposedly illegal church service held earlier this year. There’s a problem though: He has never been to the church in his life. True North’s Andrew Lawton dismantles the “fictional” accusation and explains how it fits in with what’s increasingly looking like a government obsession with one particular church.

Also, the left is trying to cancel Queen Victoria, plus a look at the “Misery Index” tracking damage caused by governments’ responses to COVID-19.

Trudeau lectures CPC about anti-Asian racism when asked to end China-Canada research

By
True North Wire
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lectured the Conservatives about “anti-Asian racism” and “tolerance” during Question Period on Wednesday when asked about protecting Canadian research institutions from Chinese foreign influence. 

Recently, the Globe and Mail revealed that at least seven scientists from Winnipeg’s National Microbiology Laboratory collaborated with China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on infectious disease studies while working in Canada. 

Trudeau made the comments after Conservative MP Candice Bergen pressed him on whether his government was willing to cut research ties with the Chinese communist regime. 

“Well the problem is – and the prime minister maybe does not realize this – is communist China cannot be trusted. I know he admires their basic dictatorship, I know he likes to do fundraisers with them over the years, I know he thought they were the first go to for vaccines but at this point we would hope that he would learn a lesson and put the safety, security and protection of Canadians above this fascination he has with the communist regime,” said Bergen. 

“So again, will he commit to ending this research and this cooperation with this regime that not only does not have our interest in mind but actually wants to hurt Canada?” 

“Yes from the beginning of my career onwards I have worked with many Chinese-Canadians and indeed had fundraisers with them and the rise in anti-Asian racism we’re seeing over the past number of months should be of concern to everyone,” replied Trudeau.

“I would recommend to members of the Conservative Party in their zeal to make personal attacks, not start to push too far into intolerance towards Canadians of diverse origins. We will continue to stand up to defend Canadians interests, Canadians security, we will continue to make sure that we are doing everything we can to keep Canadians safe while participating in the global research community and stand up for tolerance and diversity.” 

Following Trudeau’s statement, Conservative MP Kenny Chiu slammed the prime minister for his “despicable statements” and accused him of playing into Chinese propaganda. 

As reported by True North, the Chinese regime has used accusations of racism in the past as a way to deflect legitimate criticisms. 

“We’ve seen them conflate credible critiques with charges of racism and it’s silly to do that and they’re growing sharper and more immature in how they’re responding to it,” Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s Munk Senior Fellow for Foreign Policy Shuvaloy Majumdar told True North.

Tesla claims $102 million in Liberal government electric car rebates

By
True North Wire
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New data shows that out of the federal government’s $300 million worth of rebates for electric vehicles, at least a third of the funds went towards buying Tesla cars. 

The federal fund which was introduced in 2019 allows new buyers to purchase electric cars with a discount of up to $5,000 or $2,500.

According to CP24, out of the entire subsidy package, $102 million worth of the rebates went to Tesla while the other $296 million was distributed among dealerships selling other electric vehicle makes. 

“To date, consumers who have purchased the Tesla Model 3 represent approximately 25% of the total (program) claims. The Tesla Model 3 is the best-selling electric vehicle in the world,” said Transport Canada spokesperson Cybelle Morin in a statement.

Following Tesla, Hyundai and Chevrolet electric cars were the next popular vehicle brand. 

According to senior associate researcher on energy issues from the Montreal Economic Institute Germain Belizile, the subsidy is not the best way to reduce emissions. 

“It’s like cellphones. Cellphones have existed for a long time, but very few people used cellphones 35 years ago, for example, and that’s because they were very expensive and we didn’t need subsidies to eventually increase the usage of cellphones,” said Belizile. 

Despite the Trudeau government’s focus on reducing Canada’s emissions through subsidies and a federal carbon tax, Canada’s emissions performance has continued to falter. 

According to government data, the Liberal government missed their 2020 greenhouse gas emissions targets by nearly 99%. 

Watch True North’s exclusive documentary series Green Hypocrisy to see how government clean energy schemes often don’t reduce emissions and actually harm Canada’s economy.

As covered in the documentary, the federal Liberals recently partnered with the Ontario government to invest a combined $590 million in a Ford plant in Oakville to build an electric car plant. 

A surge of anti-Semitic incidents taking place in Canada amid Israel-Hamas conflict

By
Jonathan Bradley
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While the Israel-Hamas conflict reached a ceasefire, it has led to consequences outside of the Middle East, including in Canada. 

As tensions continue to rise, many Jewish people in Canada have been victims of violence and a number of hate crimes. 

According to B’nai Brith Canada, the number of anti-Semitic assaults recorded so far in May 2021 surpasses the total for all of 2020.

True North has compiled a list of some of the anti-Semitic incidents that have occurred in the last few weeks. 

Ontario imam makes anti-Israel remarks attacking Canadian politicians – May 8 

A Muslim cleric from Kitchener, Ont., allegedly accused Canadian politicians of serving Israel rather than Canada at a virtual event on May 8. 

A Muslim cleric at the Islamic Humanitarian Service, Sheikh Shafiq Hudda, made these comments at an online al-Quds Day event amid a weekend of increasing conflict in Jerusalem. 

Hudda criticized the “Zionist lobby” in Canada. 

“They get their fulus [Arabic for ‘money’], they get their funding, they get their campaign donations from these elements and these lobby groups,” said Hudda. “So they don’t even care about their own country of Canada.”

Hudda said people should support the boycott, divestment, sanctions (BDS) campaign to fight back against the Zionist lobby. 

True North reached out to Hudda to clarify his comments but he did not respond by the time this article was published. 

Violence breaks out at pro-Palestine protest in Toronto – May 15 

Pro-Palestine protesters clashed with pro-Israel supporters at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto on May 15. 

The Palestinian Youth Movement said in a press release that it was organizing protests in more than 25 cities across North America, including Toronto. 

Pro-Palestine protesters allegedly surrounded pro-Israel protesters and threw water bottles, eggs and other objects at them. 

Police officers separated the two groups soon after fights broke out between the two groups. 

At least three pro-Israel protesters were injured, and one elderly Jewish man suffered serious injuries. 

Pro-Israel rally attacked by pro-Palestine protesters in Montreal – May 15 

Police officers used tear gas following clashes between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protesters in Montreal. 

Hundreds of pro-Israel protesters gathered in a Montreal square to express solidarity with the Jewish state. 

The pro-Israel protest remained peaceful until pro-Palestine protesters arrived. Pro-Palestine protesters proceeded to initiate fights and threw rocks at the pro-Israel group. 

As a result, squads of riot police intervened, using tear gas to separate and disperse the two groups. Montreal police declared the protest illegal. 

Montreal police seize weapons during Israel-Hamas protests – May 15  

Montreal police have taken possession of dangerous weapons after protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict took place on May 15. 

Police made 15 arrests during the two pro-Palestine and pro-Israel protests that took place in downtown Montreal. 

Police seized an ax, knives and cayenne pepper. Bottles containing a liquid similar to that used in Molotov cocktails was found. The liquid is being investigated to determine whether it was intended for incendiary weapons. 

Various criminal acts, such as mischief, restraints, and armed attacks have also been committed. 

Anti-Semitic incidents take place across Edmonton – May 16 

Edmonton police have deployed its hate crimes unit to investigate after two homes were approached and anti-Semitic rhetoric was allegedly used on May 16. 

The Jewish Federation of Edmonton (JFE) said there was a vehicle being suspicious as it drove around a west end neighbourhood. The young men in the vehicle said they were “seeking Jews,” confronting people and making threats. 

The JFE notified Edmonton police and the RCMP about the episode.

Two men arrested in Cote Saint-Luc for threats against Jewish community – May 17 

Montreal police arrested two men for allegedly threatening members of the Jewish community in Cote Saint-Luc on May 17. 

Spokesperson for Montreal police Caroline Chevrefils said several people called 911 to report the incident.

Police obtained a description of the suspects’ vehicle. A 19-year-old man and a 20-year-old man were arrested. 

The hate crimes unit with Montreal police is further investigating this incident. 

Cote Saint-Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein said in a Facebook post that there would be more police around synagogues and other Jewish community buildings in the next little while to prevent similar incidents. 

Hamas flag flown at pro-Palestine protest in Toronto – May 22 

A person waved a Hamas flag at a pro-Palestine protest in Toronto on May 22.  

Hamas calls for a genocide against Jews in its charter. B’nai Brith Canada said such a display effectively makes Toronto a “no-go zone” for Jews.

“Acts of intimidation and targeted expressions of hate are reprehensible in our society, and we will continue to work with authorities to ensure the safety of our community in our country,” said B’nai Brith Canada. 

Taliban flag displayed at pro-Palestine protest in Mississauga – May 22 

A Taliban flag was displayed at a pro-Palestine protest in Mississauga on May 22. 

The Taliban has called for Jews to be executed. It continues to target Afghan civilians and American soldiers, has committed cultural genocide, and oppresses women. 

Anti-Israel manual sent out to Toronto District School Board teachers – May 22 

An educator with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has been placed under investigation after he sent an anti-Israel manual out to teachers. 

According to the Toronto Sun’s Sue-Ann Levy, an educator at TDSB, Javier Davila, allegedly recommended a documentary and book about a terrorist, encouraged teachers to read books characterizing Israelis as murderers and thieves and gave advice on how to talk about the BDS campaign.

Davila, who identifies as a queer man, has a Twitter account filled with pro-Palestine and anti-Israel tweets. 

Queer men can be sent to prison in many Middle Eastern countries. It is common for LGTBQ Palestinians to flee to Israel for safety. 

A spokesperson for TDSB Ryan Bird said Davila will be investigated to determine if his comments and actions were hateful. 

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